Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-09
THE PHYLLOXERA.
Our Worst Vine Pest and the Extent CT
Its Devastations-Known Remedies.

Our Worst Vine Pest and the Extent CT
Its Devsstations-Known Remedies.
In recent letter upon California wines
and vineyards, written by Major Ben c.
Truman, and published in the New York
Times, appears hefollowing concerning the
phylloxera:
1t is in Napa and Sonoma counties where
the phylloxera has made sad havoc, and
where almost whole vineyards have been
destroyed. The ravages of this marauder
still go on, and as yet, where vineyards
cannot be submerged, there has been no
certain means of complete eradication.
New vines on resistant stocks are planted
in place of the sick and dead ones, and it
is hoped that this will be the means of
getting rid of the dreaded ''insect" in time
These new vines bear here in three years,
whereas in France it takes from seven to
eight. Great care in selecting new vines
is exercised by growers, who disinfect all
cuttings; but, generally, few care to admit
the presence of phylloxera, as they seem
to feel that such admission ieopardizes their
interests in more ways than one, and es-
pecially those who are occasionally Obliged
TO sell or mortgage their estates or crops.
1t is curious fact, and one not generally
known, that the phylloxera is native of
America and not of France, and that its
depredations in the latter country during
the past FIVE years has cost France nearly
twice as much as the Franco German war
the last three vintages having shown
decrease of 100000,000 gallons year, and
the terrible falling off in 1886 of more than
a quarter of the average yield.
The death of the unsuspecting fly after
crossing the threshold of the murderous
spider is not more certain than the destruc-
ton of the vine after a single insect has
travelled down its stem and fixed its pro-
boscis into root. This marauder may be
seen by the aid of an ordinary magnifying
glass. 1t resembles cheese Lonesome
say a beetle-more than anything else,
and undergoes numerous changes. The
male does not amount to much, except as
progenitor, so far is known, and contents
himself with a limited sphere, so to speak,
sort of cheerful worker at home. But
the female is an energetic, viyacious thing,
and takes to herself wings, and flies from
one vineyard to another, banqueting
here and there amid fragrance and
luxuriance, and at proper time de-
posting eggs in the enfoliations OF the
upper part of the root. From these eggs
come generations, which eliminate in
thousands of millions during single sea
son, all females, and called nymphs. These
nymphs move vigorously in their career of
mischief and tap first the tenderest part of
the root in virulent way. After having
arrived upon the outer edge of vineyard,
over which they have ruinously foraged,
these unsatisfied nyrnphs come to the sur
face, and either sight or scent another viEe-
yard from afar, and, seemingly at a signal
take flight in body, and in few moments
swoop down upon heretofore untouched
vines and proceed with their devastating
repast. The reader will readily understand
by this description of the habits of the phyl-
loxera in California the secret of the de-
structiveness of French vineyards, which
succeed each other in unbroken plats for
miles upon miles, while in Napa and So
mona many of the vineyards are great dis
tances apart THE pest has an enemy,
however, in the shape of an active ant,
which sometimes chases the phylloxera
pell-mell through our American vine
yards" said Mr.. Kohler to me one day
while at his place in Glen Ellen. The
French have not been SO fortunate, as they
got the phylloxera from us. but did not
get the ant The French call the pest Phyl-
lorera Udstdtrig, because it devastates. The
French have so far failed entirely in their
efforts to rid their vineyards of this cruel
destroyer, and are now turning streams OF
water upon their lands where it is possible
to do So which is a sure way of exterrni-
nation for, as you know, the phylloXera
have never put in an appearance where
irrigation is carried on. Whole vineyards
have been destroyed in Napa and Sonoma
counties. But all new cuttings are disin-
fected and grated on resistant stocks,
which, with the festive ant, which chases
up and devours the enemy by the tens of
thousands a minute, will in a short time
undoubtedly repel the phylloxera alto
gether Sometimes the female lays her
eggs on the under side of leaf. She gen
orally deposits thirty eggs, which hatch
out in a week-thirty females-which, in
turn, deposit thirty eggs, and these gener-
atoms of females come along about once a
week for eight weeks, the production dur
ing that time being, as you may see, nearly
5S,00000O coo of female phylloxera What
do you think of that? What wonder is i;
that thousands of acres have been de-
stroyed here.and millions in France?"